U.S. Urges India and Pakistan to Avoid Escalation After Kashmir Attack

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to hold talks with his Indian and Pakistani counterparts in an effort to prevent further escalation following a deadly militant attack in India-administered Kashmir. The State Department confirmed on Tuesday that Washington is engaging with both nuclear-armed nations at multiple levels and urging a "responsible solution."

The April 22 attack in Kashmir, which left 26 dead, has sparked renewed tensions between the two rivals. India blamed Pakistan for orchestrating the assault, while Islamabad denied involvement and called for an independent investigation. In response, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a key water-sharing agreement, and Pakistan retaliated by closing its airspace to Indian airlines. Cross-border firing has also resumed.

The U.S. publicly backed India following the attack, with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance condemning the violence. However, Washington has refrained from directly criticizing Pakistan, signaling a delicate diplomatic balancing act.

Rubio is expected to speak with the foreign ministers of both India and Pakistan by Wednesday and has encouraged other global leaders to help defuse the situation. The U.S. views India as a strategic partner in countering China’s regional influence, while Pakistan remains a key, albeit less central, ally post-Afghanistan withdrawal.

Kashmir, a Muslim-majority region, remains a flashpoint between Hindu-majority India and Islamic Pakistan, both of which claim it in full and have fought multiple wars over its control. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed retaliation, while Pakistan’s defense minister warned of a potential Indian military incursion.

As tensions rise, the U.S. is positioning itself as a mediator to avoid conflict between two of Asia’s most volatile neighbors, both armed with nuclear weapons.